Picture frame table



y 19, 1964 E. MARAVENTANO PICTURE FRAME TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 16, 1961 INVENTOR Eugene Moraventono ATTORNEY FIG.5.

United States Patent 3,133,510 PICTURE FRAME TABLE Eugene Maraventano, 10 Dillon Ave., Terryville, N.Y., assignor of thirty-three and one-third percent to Clive H. Bramson, Oyster Bay, N.Y.

Filed Oct. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 145,142 7 Claims. (Cl. 108-33) This invention relates to novel and useful table structures and more particularly to a combination picture frame and table construction adapted for use in confined areas wherein the requirement for a dining table, e.g., is essential and the conversion thereof into an aesthetic painting displayed at a predetermined wall height is both convenient and desirable.

It will be understood that the table disclosed herein is intended to include any device having an horizontal or substantially horizontal upper surface suitable for supporting various articles and has within its purview tabletops, counters, shelves, Sideboards or the like or a part which in cooperation with other parts forms such a device.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice of the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a part hereof illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the table and picture frame in completely folded inoperative position and mounted upon awall surface;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the folded picture frame table taken in section along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the table in a position intermediate that shown in FIGURES 1 and 4;.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the table and picture frame in operative position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the table and picture frame in operative position taken in partial section along line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an end elevation of the table and picture frame shown in operative position; and,

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation view corresponding to FIG. 5 but showing a slight modification in the table and picture frame construction.

The invention is directed to the end of providing a folding table of the type aforementioned, the purpose thereof being of a dual nature, i.e., an operative dining table or the like in combination with a picture frame of desirable aesthetic qualities.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a folding table adapted to fold into and from a wallmounted cabinet housing having a picture frame closure member hingedly mounted thereon and arranged to con ceal the table when nested wholly within the confines of the said cabinet housing.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a cabinet housing suitable for wall mounting substantially above floor level and a folding table structure adapted to be unfolded therefrom and partially supported thereby at convenionally desired table top levels.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved and simplified foldable table unit which may be readily and conveniently concealed from view through the medium of aesthetic camouflage, the requirement for removal to a storage area during periods of non-use being accordingly obviated.

' Another object of the invention is the provision of a unique and compact foldable table unit which is readily and economically manufactured, convenient to use, and eflicient in operation.

It will be understood that the foregoing general objectives and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory but are not restrictive of the in vention. Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, FIGURE 1 shows the picture frame table assembly designated generally by numeral 10 in completely folded inoperative position, the assembly being similarly folded in FIGURE 2 of the drawings but shown in cross-section therein to reveal the feature of the compact superposed inoperative condition of the folded table structure internally of the said cabinet housing.

As illustrated more fully in FIGURE 3, the picture frame table according to the present invention is essentially comprised of cabinet housing 20 and foldable table structure 30 in combination as will be described in detail hereinbelow. Table structure 30 which is adapted to fold into and from said cabinet housing consists of inner section 2 and outer section 4 hingedly connected in edge abutting relation by transverse hinge 6 as shown fully in FIGURE 4 of the drawings.

'Drop-support members 8 and 12 being pivotally connected to bottom wall 14 of the said cabinet housing 20 .at pinlocations 14 and 16 respectively, provide partial support for the table structure 30 by virtue of the pivotal connection provided between said drop-support members 8 and 12 and said inner section 2 at pin locations 18 and 22 respectively. Hence, it is seen that said dropsupport members, in addition to partially supporting the said table structure in operative position, further function to facilitate the folding of the said table structure into the said cabinet housing by guiding the inner section 2 upwardly and into the said cabinet housing when the said outer section 4 is lifted and an upwardly and inwardly directed force is applied thereagainst toward wall surface 24 upon which the said cabinet housing is mounted.

Folding legs 26 and 28, held in rigid relation by crossbrace members 32 and 34, are pivotally mounted by means of angle hinges 36 and 38' on outer section 4 for movement into the positions shown in the figures, i.e.', projecting at right angles with respect to said outer section 4 when in operative position and into positions in which they are superposed and lie flush with the lower face of the said section when in the inoperative position.

Folding legs 40 and 42, held in rigid relation by crossbrace members 46 and 48, are pivotally mounted by means of hinge 48 for movement into the positions shown in the figures, i.e., projecting at right angles with respect to said sections 2 and 4 when the table structure 30 is in operative position. As illustrated in FIGURE 5 of the drawings, the hinged ends of said folding legs 40 and 42 are disposed directly beneath the abutting edges of said sections 2 and 4 and beneath transverse hinge 6 when said table structure is in operative position. It will be further observed that folding legs 40 and 42 assume positions in which they are superposed and lie flush with the lower face of the inner section when in the inoperative position.

Pictnre-frame-door 59 shown in open position in FIG- URE 3 of the drawings, is connected to cabinet housing 20 by vertically disposed hinge 52 thereby providing closure for said housing whether said table structure is in the folded or operative position. Accordingly, any painting, design or the like mounted within the peripheral frame of said door 50 will afford an aesthetic character to the wall surface and room in which the instant device is utilized and simultaneously thereby camouflage the said cabinet housing by augmenting the primary function thereof, i.e., as a housing for the inoperative table structure. Consonant with the foregoing it will be noted that an essential feature ofthe invention lies in the provision of drop-support members 8 and 12 which enable the wall mounting of said cabinet housing at heights necessarily desirable for paintings while still permitting the cooperative combination and integral nature of both table structure and cabinet housing.

FIGURE 7 of the drawings discloses a slight modification to the drop-support member linkage between the said table structure and the said cabinet housing. To that end, longitudinal channel or groove 52 is provided in side walls 54, 54 of the cabinet housing 20 wherein pin 56 fastened to drop-support member 8 is slidably received thereby. A similar pin-groove arrangement is provided for drop-support member 12 although not shown herein. It will be understood that the foregoing modification is merely exemplary of an alternative arrangement capable of carrying out the purpose of the instant invention and is not intended to be restrictive of the manner of accomplishing the above-described objectives.

It will be further understood that the cabinet housing may be recessed within a Wall surface if such becomes desirable and that any modifications necessary to effectuate such recessing are within the purview of this invention. That is, although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, various changes within the contemplation of this invention may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A compact table assembly comprising in combination, a cabinet housing, a table structure adapted to fold into and from said cabinet housing, rop support means depending downwardly from said cabinet housing and connected to said table structure to partially provide support for said table structure While in the unfolded operative position.

2. A compact table assembly comprising in combination, a wall mounted cabinet housing, a table structure arranged to fold into said cabinet housing assuming an inoperative position and arranged to fold from said cabinet housing assuming an operative position, said table structure being substantially lower with respect to said cabinet housing when in operative position, vertically depending drop-support members pivotally connected to both cabinet housing and table structure being adapted to provide partial support to said table structure when in operative position.

3. A compact table assembly comprising in combination, a wall mounted cabinet housing, a table structure arranged to fold into said cabinet housing assuming an inoperative position and arranged to fold from said cabinet housing assuming an operative position, said table structure having hingedly connected inner and outer sections the former of which is pivotally attached to vertically depending drop-support members, said drop support members being pivotally attached to said cabinet housing and adapted to provide partial support to said table structure when in operative position.

4. A compact table assembly comprising in combination a wall mounted cabinet housing, a table structure adapted to fold into and from said cabinet housing, said table structure having hingedly connected inner and outer sections the former of which is pivotally attached to dropsupport members, said drop-support members being connected in pivotal relation with said cabinet housing and adapted to depend downwardly therefrom to support said inner section when said table structure is in operative position, leg members hingedly connected to said outer sections to provide support for said outer sections and a picture-frame-door hingedly connected to said cabinet housing to provide closure therefor whether said table structure is in folded or operative position.

5. A compact table assembly comprising in combination a cabinet housing having side walls and a bottom wall, a table structure adapted to fold into and from said cabinet housing, said table structure having hingedly connected inner and outer sections the former of which is pivotally attached to one of the ends of a pair of dropsupport members, the other ends of said members being pivotally attached to the said bottom wall and adapted to depend downwardly therefrom in parallel relation to said side walls to partially support the table structure in operative position, a picture-frame-door connected to said cabinet housing providing closure therefor whether said table structure be in folded or operative position.

6. A compact table assembly comprising in combination a cabinet housing having side walls and a bottom wall, a table structure adapted to fold into and from said cabinet housing, said table structure having hingedly connected inner and outer sections the former of which is pivotally attached to one of the ends of a pair of dropsupport members, the other ends of each of said members being slidably adapted to said side walls and adapted to depend downwardly therefrom in parallel relation with respect thereto to partially support the table structure in operative position, a picture-frame-door hingedly connected to said cabinet housing providing closure therefor whether said table structure be in folded or operative position.

7. A compact table assembly comprising in combination, a cabinet housing, a table structure adapted to fold into and from said cabinet housing, and drop support members depending downwardly from said cabinet housing and connected to said table structure to partially provide support for said table structure while in the unfolded operative position, said drop support members being receivable within said cabinet housing when said table structure is folded into said cabinet housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,317,895 Rudy Oct. 7, 1919 1,318,815 Stankee Oct. 14, 1919 1,515,242 Dexter Nov. 11, 1924 1,601,112 Cummins Sept. 28, 1926 2,566,256 Snyder Aug. 28, 1951 2,580,618 Terrell Jan. 1, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,245,928 France Oct. 3, 1960 

1. A COMPACT TABLE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A CABINET HOUSING, A TABLE STRUCTURE ADAPTED TO FOLD INTO AND FROM SAID CABINET HOUSING, DROP SUPPORT MEANS DEPENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID CABINET HOUSING AND CONNECTED TO SAID TABLE STRUCTURE TO PARTIALLY PROVIDE 